Conveyer



H. A. PHILLIPS CONVEYER May 22, 1934.

Filed Dec. 14, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l y 1934- H. A. PHILLIPS 1,959,735

CONVEYER Filed Dec. 14. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 lllgg!IIIllllilllllllfllllllllllllillllllll H. A. PHILLIPS May 22, 1934.

CONVEYER 3 Sheets- Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 14, 1932 Patented May 22, 1934UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER Howard A. Phillips, Ottumwa, IowaApplication December 14, 1932, Serial No. 647,078

The object of my 26 Claims.

invention is to provide a conveyer which is simple, durable andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture. V More particularly, it is myobject to provide a conveyer which is especially adapted for loading orunloading box cars, the conveyer being so constructed that it can beplaced in the box car and quickly adjusted so as to extend from the doorto the far end of the car or convey articles just inside the door asdesired, the adjustment being readily effected while the conveyer is inoperation. Still a further object is to provide a conveyer unit havingmeans for conveying in a substantially straight line and another unitfor conveying articles in a curved line, the units being associated sothat articles can be received laterally through a box car door, conveyedin a curved line and then conveyed in a straight line substantiallylongitudinal relative to the car.

Still a further object is to provide a conveyer which is wheel mountedso that it can be wheeled into and out of a box car and Wheeled tovarious positions in the car, as desired, the wheels being so associatedwith the conveyer that the conveyer can be supported at differentheights relative to the car floor.

poses.

Still another obj line conveyer with set is to provide the curved arotatable mounting which for operating the conveyer units regardless oftheir various positions of adjustment and control means for the powermeans which can be manipulated to cause operation of the curved lineconveyer in the proper direction after it has been adjusted to a reverseWith these position.

and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction,arrangement and combination of the various parts of my vice, whereby theobjects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,pointed out in my claims panying drawings.

and illustrated in the accom- Although the invention is susceptible of avariety of embodiments, it is unnecessary to fully describe andillustrate more than one in order to give a full understanding of theinvention both from its structural and functional standpoints.Accordingly, I have illusrated a preferred and desirable embodiment ofthe invention in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conveyer embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the conveyer.

Figure 4 is a front elevation thereof.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged vertical sectional views on the lines5-5, 6-6 and 7--7, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 5- Figure 9 is asectional view on Figure 3.

Figure 10 is an enlarged plan view of the right end of Figure 2.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 are diagrammatic views showing the conveyer in usein a box car; and

Figure 14 is an electro-diagrammatic figure of control means forelectric motors which operate the conveyer.

On the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate rear wheels and 12, front caster wheels for supporting theconveyer. The conveyer has three distinct units, a curved line conveyerA and straight line conveyers B and C. These are mounted on a suitableframework, the details of which will now be described.

The frame for the conveyer C comprises side bars 14 and vertical frontend bars 16. The bars 16 are adjustably associated with a U frame 18 towhich the front caster wheels 12 are pivoted. As shown in Figure 9, aseries of openings are provided and bolts 20 serve to bolt the bars 16to the U frame 18 with the conveyer unit C at any desired elevation withrespect to the floor 22 on which the wheels 12 rest.

The conveyer B is supported by side bars 24. Connected with the sidebars 24 is a platform 26. Upright bars 28 and angular braces 30 serve100 as the means of connection between the side bars 24 and the platform26. Upright legs 32 are provided on the platform 26. An axle 34 for therear wheels 10 is detachably connected with the up the line 9-9 ofrights 32 by bolts 36. A plurality of perforations sociated with eachother. At the front end of the side bars 24, downwardly extending arms38 are provided. These are provided with angle bars 40 to which brassshoes 42 are secured for 5 sliding on the tops of the lower flanges ofthe front side bars 14 which are channel-shaped, as shown in Figures 6and '7.

At the rear ends of the side bars 14, upstanding arms 44 are providedwhich have secured thereto, 10 brass shoes 46 for sliding along theupper surfaces of the lower flanges of the rear frame bars 24 which arealso channel-shaped, as shown in Figure 5. Thus it will be obvious thatthe side bars 14 and 24 are telescopically arranged relative to eachother and the frame consisting of these bars and associated parts thusfar described is entirely supported by the wheels 10 and 12.

I provide a means for readily and quickly adjusting the side bars 14 and24 and thereby the conveyers C and B relative to each other. This meansconsists of a crank 48 geared to a sprocket shaft 50 (see Figure 4). Asprocket 52 is provided on the shaft 50. Depending ends of the arms 44carry a cross shaft 54 having an idler sprocket 56 thereon. A chain 58extends around the sprockets 52 and 56. One stretch of the chain issecured by a U bolt 60 to a shaft 62 which is supported by the dependingends of the arms 38. It will thus be obvious that rotation of the crank48 in one direction will move the shaft 62 longitudinally in onedirection relative to the front side bars 14 and vice versa. This willresult in moving the conveyer units B and C telescopically relative toeach other.

The conveyer B comprises rear and front shafts 64 and 66, a plurality ofidler rollers 68 and a chain and slat type conveyer belt 70. Theconveyer belt 70 is suitably associated with the shafts 64 and 66 asshown on the drawings for convey- 4o ing operation when these shafts arerotated and the upper and lower stretches of the belt are supported bylongitudinally arranged bars 72 and '74, respectively.

For driving the conveyer belt 70, I provide chain ,connections 76, 78and 80. The connection 89 is with a gear box 82 with which a motor 84 isconnected for operating the gearing thereof which, of course, is of stepdown type to operate the conveyer belt 70 at a proportionally lowerspeed than the motor 84 operates.

The conveyer B being mounted on a frame rigid with the platform 28 makesit possible to provide the chain connections 76, '78 and 80 with thebelt '70. The conveyer C comprises rear and front shafts 86 and 88,idler rollers 90 and a chain "and slat type conveyer belt 92. The upperand lower stretches of the belt 92 are supported by bars 94 and 96,respectively.

The gear box 82 and the conveyer C are rela- .tively adjustable asdisclosed by the foregoing description. In order to drive the conveyer Cin any of its adjusted positions, I provide the following describedmechanism. A chain 98 is provided for driving purposes. It drives ashaft 5 100 which is journalled on the arms 44 (see Figure 8). It alsoextends around an idler 102 mounted on the shaft 62. The shaft 62 and ashaft 104 with which the chains 78, 80 and 98 are associated aretherefore both carried by the rear side bars 24. Idlers 106 (see Figure8) are provided for the chain 98.

For transmitting rotation from the shaft 100 to the shaft 86, I providea chain 103. I During the telescoping adjustment of the conveyer units Band C, the sprockets 106 are merely carried 134 is in turn supported ontrack members 136 A so that it is reversible and also longitudinallyalong the chain 98 without tending to shorten or lengthen the chain.Thus the shaft 86 and consequently the conveyer C are properly driven inall positions of adjustment.

The curved line conveyer unit A comprises curved frame bars 110, 112 and114 which support a plurality of rollers 116 and 118. The rollers 116are driven rollers, while the rollers 118 are idler rollers, there beingtwo idlers at each end of the conveyer unit.

The driven rollers 116 are geared together by gears 120, idler gears 122being interposed between the gears 120. The shaft of the central rolleris indicated at 124. It extends into a gear box 126 which is driven byan electric motor 128.

The frame bars 110, 112 and 114 are suitably mounted on a platform 130.The platform is pivoted at 132 to a supporting plate 134 for horizontalrotary movement. The supporting plate (see Figure 3) by rollers 138which are journalled on depending side bars 140 of the supporting plate134. A guard plate 142 is arranged along the diverging ends of therollers 116 and 118.

The conveyer A is rotatable about the pivot 132 from the full lineposition of Figure 2 to the dotted line position thereof. This is sothat articles can be received from either side of the machine.

In Figure 14, I have illustrated a control switch 144 for controllingthe motor 84 for the conveyers B and C and the motor 128 for theconveyer A. The right section 146 of the switch serves to energize themotor 84 and cause it to travel in one direction regardless of whichdirection from center the section 146 is swung.

The section 148 of the switch, however, causes rotation of the motor 128in one direction when the switch is thrown in one direction and viceversa. This is necessary because it is always required that theconveyers B and C travel in one direction, while after reversing theposition of the conveyor unit A, it is required that it travel in. anopposite direction so that the rollers 116 will be rotated in the properdirection for discharge onto the conveyer unit 13.

The particular arrangement of the conveyers B and C so that they cantelescope apart or together and the arrangement of the conveyer unitadjustable relative to the conveyer B by rolling its wheels 138 alongthe track 136 adapts the conveyer disclosed for use in a box car.Diagramrnatically this is shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13. In Figure 11,the conveyer is extended to its fullest extent with the unit A at itsrearmost position. In this position, the loading is started. The box caris indicated at 150 and the door thereof at 152. Articles are receivedon the conveyer A which gives them a quarter turn and discharges themonto the conveyer B. From the conveyer B, they are discharged onto theconveyer C and deposited as indicated at 154 by a man in the car. As theloading progresses. the conveyer may be progressively shortened to theposition of Figure 12 by rotating the crank 48.

This is the full contracted position of the units B and C. As theloading further progresses, the units 13 and C can be pushed back byroll- 14 ing the entire machine on the wheels 10 and 12 to the positionof Figure 13, for instance. Pushing back of the conveyer can beaccomplished progressively and likewise pulling forward of the unit Arelative to the conveyers B and 150 by my claims, any

0 can be accomplished progressively in order to keep the conveyer unit Awithin the outline of the door 152 so that it can properly receivearticles from men loading the conveyer or from a conveyer extended fromthe warehouse, for instance. In the full contracted position of Figure13, the conveyer device is quite short so that it can be revolved withinthe box car to load the other end thereof or can be manipulated forentrance or exit relative to the box car. The particular combination ofadjustments, it will be obvious, especially adapts the conveyer for boxcar loading as just described.

The conveyer unit A might be driven from the motor 84, but this wouldconsiderably complicate the driving mechanism. Although I have shownslat type conveyer belts, it will be obvious that any other type such asa flexible belt or driven rollers could be used instead. I have shownthe conveyer constructed for loading a boxcar. It can also beconstructed for unloading a box car by placing the conveyer E below theconveyer C and the conveyer A below the conveyer B. All the conveyerbelts and conveyer rolls are then reversed so as to convey articles frominside the car to the door thereof.

Such a departure from the ac ual construction shown and other changesmight be made without departing from the real spirit and purpose of myinvention, and it is my intention to cover modified forms of structureor use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably includedwithin their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line, a second unit for conveying in a curvedline to the first means, said second unit being mounted for such rotaryadjustment with relation to the first unit that either end thereof mayregister with said first unit and for adjustment lengthwise of the firstunit.

2. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line, a second unit having means for conveying ina substantially straight line to the first unit, said units beingoperatively connected for relative lengthwise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means "of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment, and a third unit forconveying in a curved line to the second unit, said third unit beingmounted for adjustment lengthwise of the second unit and also adjustableabout a vertical pivot at the center of said second unit so that eitherend thereof may register with said second unit.

3. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line,

'a second unit having means for conveying in a substantially straightline to the first unit,

tive lengthwise adjustment for thus varying the length of the completeconveyer, a power device operatively connected with the conveying meansof both units, for operating them in all positions of their relativeadjustment, and a third unit for conveying in a curved line to thesecond unit, said third unit being mounted for such ro- 'tary adjustmentwith relation to the second unit that it may assume two positions, onewith one of its ends registering with the second unit and its other endextending from one side thereof and the other position with said otherend regerating the third unit,

1 un' s third n' said units being operatively connected for rela- 1t ald113 istering with the second unit and the first mentioned end extendingfrom the opposite side of said second unit.

4. In .a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line, a second unit having means for conveying ina substantially straight line to the first unit, said units beingoperatively connected for relative lengthwise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment, and a third unit forconveying through a quarter circle to the second unit, said third unitbeing mounted for adjustment lengthwise of the second unit and for suchrotary adjustment with relation to the second unit that either endthereof may register with the second unit.

5. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line, a second unit having means for conveying ina substantially straight line to the first unit, said units beingoperatively connected for relative lengthwise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment,

a third unit for conveying in a curved line to the 135 second unit, saidthird unit being mounted for end for end rotary adjustment with relationto the second unit, and independent means for opsaid independent meansbeing reversible.

6. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line, a second unit having means for conveying ina substantially straight line to the first unit, said units beingoperatively connected for relative length- 5 wise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment, a third unit for conveying 2in a curved line to the second unit, said third unit being mounted foradjustment lengthwise of the second unit and for end for end rotaryadjustment with relation to the second unit, and reversible means foroperating the third unit.

7. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line, a second unit having means for conveying ina substantially straight line to the first unit, said units beingoperatively connected for relative lengthwise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment, a third unit for conveyingthrough a quarter circle arc to the second being mounted for adjustmentlengthwise of the second unit and for end for end rotary adjustment withrelation to the second unit, and independent reversible means foroperating the third unit.

8. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line, a second unit for conveying in a curvedline to the r first means, said second unit being mounted for rotaryadjustment to reversed position with its former receiving enddischarging to the first unit, powermeans for operating said units andcontrol means for said power means to cause operation thereof in theproper direction when said second unit is adjusted to said reversedposition.

9. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having a frame and means for conveyingin a substantially straight line, a second unit for conveying in acurved line, said second unit being mounted on the frame for adjustmentlengthwise, and for end for end adjustment rotarily, of the first unit.

10. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line, a second unit having means for conveying ina substantially straight line, said units being operatively connectedfor relative lengthwise adjustment for thus varying the length of thecomplete conveyer, a power device operatively connected with theconveying means of both units for operating them in all positions oftheir relative adjustment, a third unit for conveying in a curved line,said third unit being mounted for end for end rotary adjustment relativeto the second unit, and independent reversible means for operating thethird unit.

11. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line, a second unit for conveying in asubstantially ninety degree are to the first means, said second unitbeing mounted for rotary adjustment to reversed position with its formerreceiving end discharging to the first unit, electric means foroperating said units and a switch for said electric means to causeoperation thereof with the circuit to the second unit reversed when saidsecond unit is adjusted to said reversed position.

12. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying in asubstantially straight line, a second unit for conveying in asubstantially ninety degree are to the first means, said second unitbeing mounted for rotary adjustment to reversed position with its formerreceiving end discharging to the first unit, electric means foroperating said units and a switch for said electric means to causesimultaneous operation of the electric means for the first and secondunits in one direction or simultaneous operation of the first unit insaid direction and the second unit in an opposite direction when thesecond unit is adjusted to said reversed position.

13. In an article conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveyingarticles in a substantially straight line, a second unit for conveyingarticles in a curved line, said second unit being of roller type andmounted for rotary adjustment with relation to the first unit witheither end overhanging it and means for driving said first unit and fordriving the rollers of said second unit in either direction depending onthe end of said second unit overhanging said first unit.

14. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying and asecond unit for conveying in a curved line to the first means, saidsecond unit being mounted for such rotary adjustment with relation tothe first unit that either end thereof may register with said first unitand for adjustment lengthwise of the first unit.

15. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying, a secondunit having means for conveying to the first unit, said units beingoperatively connected for relative lengthwise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment, and a third unit forconveying in a curved line to the second unit, said third unit beingmounted for adjustment lengthwise of the second unit and also adjustableabout a vertical pivot at the center of said second unit so that eitherend thereof may register with said second unit.

16. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying, asecondunit having means for conveying to the first unit, said unitsbeing operatively connected for relative lengthwise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment, to the second unit, saidthird unit being mounted for such rotary adjustment with relation to thesecond unit that it may assume two positions, one with one of its endsregistering with the second unit and its other end extending from oneside thereof and the other position with said other end registering withthe second unit and the first mentioned end extending site side of saidsecond unit.

17. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying, a secondunit having means for conveying to the first unit, said units beingoperatively connected for relative lengthwise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment, and a third unit forconveying through a quarter circle to the second unit, said third unitbeing mounted for adjustment lengthwise of the second unit and for suchrotary adjustment with relation to the second unit that either endthereof may register with the second unit.

18. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying, a secondunit having means for conveying to the first unit, said units beingoperatively connected for relative lengthwise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment, a third unit for conveyingto the second unit, said third unit being mounted for end for end rotaryadjustment with relation to the second unit and independent means foroperating the third unit, said independent means being reversible.

19. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying, a secondunit having means for conveying to the first unit, said units beingoperatively connected for relative lengthwise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment, a third unit for conveyingto the second unit, said third unit being mounted for adjustmentlengthwise of the second unit and for end for end rotary adjustment withrelation to the second unit and reversible means for operating the thirdunit.

20. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying, a secondunit having means for conveying to the first unit, said units beingopera tively connected for relative lengthwise adjustment for thusvarying the length of the complete conveyer, a power device operativelyconnected with the conveying means of both units, for operating them inall positions of their relative adjustment, a third unit for conveyingthrough a quarter circle arc to the second unit, said third and a thirdunit for conveyingfrom the oppounit being mounted for adjustmentlengthwise of the second unit and for end for end rotary adjustment withrelation to the second unit and independent reversible means foroperating the third unit.

21. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying, a secondunit for conveying to the first means, said second unit being mountedfor rotary adjustment to reversed position with its former receiving enddischarging to the first unit, power means for operating said units andcontrol means for said power means to cause operation thereof in theproper direction when said second unit is adjusted to said reversedposition.

22. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having a frame and means forconveying and a second unit for conveying, said second unit beingmounted on the frame for adjustment lengthwise, and for end adjustmentrotarily of the first unit.

23. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying, a secondunit having means for conveying, said units being operatively connectedfor relative lengthwise adjustment for thus varying the length of thecomplete conveyer, a power device operatively connected with theconveying means of both units for operating them in all positions oftheir relative adjustment, a third unit for conveying, said third unitbeing mounted for end for end rotary adjustment relative to the secondunit and independent reversible means for operating the third unit.

24. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying, a secondunit for conveying to the first means, said second unit being mountedfor rotary adjustment to reversed position with its former receiving enddischarging to the first unit, electric means for operating said unitsand a switch for said electric means to cause operation thereof with thecircuit to the second unit reversed when said second unit is adjusted tosaid reversed position.

25. In a conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveying, a secondunit for conveying to the first means, said second unit being mountedfor rotary adjustment to reversed position with its former receiving enddischarging to the first unit, electric means for operating said unitsand a switch for said electric means to cause simultaneous operation ofthe electric means for the first and second units in one direction orsimultaneous operation of the first unit in said direction and thesecond unit in an opposite direction when the second unit is adjusted tosaid reversed position.

26. In an article conveyer, a conveyer unit having means for conveyingarticles, a second unit for conveying articles, said second unit beingof roller type and mounted for rotary adjustment with relation to thefirst unit with either end overhanging it and means for driving saidfirst unit and for driving the rollers of said second unit in eitherdirection depending on the end of said second unit overhanging saidfirst unit.

HOWARD A. PHILLIPS.

